Louis Roederer decided in 2021 to replace one of the house’s most famous champagnes, “Brut Premier”, with the new “Collection”. The overriding motivation was the desire to lift the quality and character one notch higher, so that the house thus cemented its status as a supplier of one of the market’s absolute best non-vintage champagnes. “Collection 244” refers to the fact that it is primarily based on vintage 2019, which is the 244th vintage at Louis Roederer. The following editions of “Collection” will of course also have a number added, which is derived in the same way.
“Collection 244” is, as mentioned, primarily based on year 2019 (54%). “Oak-aged Reserve Wines” make up 10% (7 different barrel-aged vintages), and “Perpetual Reserve” makes up 36%. “Perpetual Reserve” is a tank-aged wine that was established in 2012, and where wine from the current vintage (2019 in the case of “244”) is filled every year, corresponding to the same year’s consumed amount. This unique complexity ensures the “Collection” a high degree of continuity in style and quality and at the same time adds even more fullness and character. “Collection” is fermented and stored in the bottle for min. 3 years, and the “dosage” – the sugar liqueur that is added at the end, amounts to approx. 8 g per litres.
“Collection 244” is composed of 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 26% Pinot Meunier from many different parcels, 1/3 of which are located in each of Champagne’s best districts – Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blanc. Chardonnay adds a delicate aroma of ripe peaches and apricots, but also creamy, exotic notes. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier add structure, dryness and a lovely crispness. Discreet nuances of honey, vanilla, almonds and toast appear in the aftertaste. The wine is perfect as an aperitif due to its freshness and finesse, but is also an excellent food accompaniment.
Champagne Louis Roederer is undoubtedly in a very privileged situation when you own 214 ha. of Champagne’s best vineyards and thus almost self-sufficient in grapes. The fields are roughly equally located in the 3 best regions of Champagne – Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, and cover 80-85% of Louis Roederer’s total needs for grapes. 97% of the vineyards are classified as Grand Cru or Premier Cru, and the same distinguished distribution has the fields in Bouzy and Ambonnay, from which you buy the rest of the grapes you need.
Over the past several years, Louis Roederer has gradually sought to adjust their production according to the most sustainable principles – including organic/biodynamic cultivation. They have thus already obtained the DEMETER certificate (biodynamic cultivation) on the vineyards that produce the grapes for the house’s most prestigious brand, Cristal. From and including year 2021, a further 115 ha. fields achieved organic certification, and the remaining vineyards will follow suit.
Vinification takes place in modern stainless steel tanks of 60-100 hl., which ensures the best hygiene and complete control over all processes. A few floors below ground, you will find Louis Roederer’s unique “Vins de Réserve”, which is a store of older wines stored in used oak casks of 60 hl. as on steel tanks (Perpetual Reserve). The reserve wines are included to varying degrees in the production of the non-vintage champagnes to ensure continuity in both style and quality in each one of these.
Champagne Louis Roederer has for many years been at the absolute top of Champagne, and no house here enjoys a greater reputation today than just Louis Roederer.
